What is sudden cardiac arrest or SCA?

Sudden cardiac arrest or SCA is often viewed as one of the primary causes of death in the US. It affects over three hundred thousand victims per year with a survival rate of only around 5%. SCA cases are typically caused by abnormal heart rhythms (also called an arrhythmia). Unless the heart rhythms are restored to normal, a person can expire in a matter of minutes. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, even if they have no previous heart related medical conditions. SCA shouldn’t be confused with a heart attack, which is the death of muscle tissue from an interruption in the blood supply. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, at anytime.